By Kyle Roberts
RUSTON, La. — Ruston High Head Coach Mandy Cauley was asked for one word to describe the 2025 volleyball season.
She came up with three: growth, development and maturity — and those apply to her players, support staff and coaches.
It was a season that put everyone outside of their comfort zones as the team — heavy with sophomores and juniors — had to adapt and adjust to find the best lineup night in and night out.
“I would say this was the most subs I’ve made and most lineups I’ve made ever in my coaching career,” Cauley said. “We spent a lot of time trying to find the most competitive group every night because as athletes being teenage girls, you’re really blessed if everybody shows up ready to go every day and then is able to quiet whatever circumstances they’re dealing with or how they’re feeling or sicknesses or injuries.
“We dealt with all of that all year.”
A natural-born competitor, Cauley let none of that shy her her away from wanting a heavily competitive schedule. The team played top competition from Mississippi, South Louisiana, and from the Shreveport area, where volleyball is really starting to pick up.
By early September, Ruston had wrapped up the district championship, going undefeated overall to take the District 2-I title. And from there, the competition ramped up, giving the team an idea of the type of competition waiting for them in the postseason.
“Even with our program record under .500 this year, we still had a successful season,” Cauley said of her squad’s 16-18 record. “I’m not discouraged (by our final record). Everyone that coaches knows that you can schedule one of two ways — easy opponents for wins or a tough schedule. And at the end of the year, we played three teams that were in state championships in different divisions. We didn’t shy away from the tough.”
By the end of the season — through ups and downs — the Lady ‘Cats earned the No. 22 seed overall and fell to Barbe in four sets in the first round.
But the real wins came from the team’s response to adversity that will carry the team into next season. Only losing senior libero Camille Smith to graduation, the Lady Bearcats will return the District MVP in Baylor Cauley, Offensive MVP Jane Ramsey and Newcomer of the Year Bridget Crittenden.
Mix that with an undefeated eighth grade squad coming to Ruston High next year after an 11-0 season — the future is bright from here.
“I’m already working on the schedule for next year,” Cauley said. “I know that for to continue to grow as a program, we’re going to have to travel a lot next year. And I want to continue to get good quality for our Bearcat Brawl. We are going to travel and try to get into some competitive tournaments down south to get the number of matches and number of quality opponents and quality reps higher.”
Cauley concluded by thanking the community and school for the support given to the program once again this season.
“I thought that we just really had a lot of fan support and community support this year,” Cauley said. “We had more businesses providing meals, and that is such a blessing to the girls and to our budget and fundraising efforts. The girls and the coaching staff were all very grateful for everybody that believed in us and contributed towards our success.
“I’m already excited about next year.”
Notable stats from this past year:
- Senior Camille Smith – 232 digs; single match personal best 23 digs versus Loyola on Senior Night; second on the team in digs and aces (49)
- Junior Baylor Cauley – First on the team in digs (271), aces (91), kills (255) and assists (433); recorded a record 8 matches with triple doubles in digs/kills/assists.
- Junior Jane Ramsey – first on the team with blocks (53); second on the team with kills (229); recorded two matches with 15 kills each.
- Junior Brooklyn Bissell – Third overall on the team in Aces (47); Fifth on the team in overall digs with (170); recorded a personal best total digs versus Loyola (14).
- Sophomore Naomi Smith – Third on the team in total digs with (219), fourth on the team with kills (101); recorded a person best digs with 22 versus Northwood. Totaled 19 aces on the season.
- Sophomore Bridget Crittenden – Second on the team in total assists with (229); third overall with kills (150); fourth overall in digs (191). Recorded a personal best 16 kills versus Barbe in the playoff game; has personal best 23 assists versus West Monroe. Recorded three matches with triple/doubles in digs/kills/assists. Totaled 35 aces this season.
- Sophomore Addie Powell – Third overall on the team with blocks (22); 39 total kills.
- Sophomore Ellie Williams – Sixth on the team with overall digs (128); 21 total aces.
